American Heart Association announces Red Cap Ambassadors and new logistics leader
In celebration of America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk 2018, volunteers, board members, High 5 Club members, team captains, heart disease and stroke survivors, and corporate donors came together to kick-off the event with the annual Kick-off and News Conference at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford. America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend 2018 is scheduled for Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd.
Heart Weekend will be under new volunteer leadership this year. After serving as the Logistics Chairman of America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk for 17 years, Jim Stasaitis will be stepping down from the role. Steve Gassner, former American Heart Association advisory board president and former Heart Telethon chairman, will take over.
“I am excited about taking on my new role as the Logistics Chairman,” Gassner says. “I am looking forward to carrying on the tradition and excitement that Jim has so successfully built in the past.” As Logistics Chairman, Gassner will be responsible for ensuring participants have a safe and enjoyable experience during Heart Weekend. Stasaitis says while he is stepping down, he is not stepping away. He plans to be a participant at Heart Weekend this year.
The fundraising goal for the upcoming America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend is $1,114,690. Fundraising efforts will be led by chairman Brian Sciortino, Vice President Global Claims and Field Claims Services with MetLife.
Other highlights for the event at Utica College’s Harold T. Clark Athletic Center include the following:
- The popular Kids Heart Challenge, sponsored by AmeriCU Credit Union, will be returning to Heart Weekend. For its second year, the challenge will be held Friday, March 2nd at 7pm at Valley Gymnastics. The event is a ½ mile obstacle course for kids ages 5-12. Registration will be available online and starting at 6:30pm at Valley Gymnastics.
- The Healthy For Good Expo will be held on Friday, March 3rd at Utica College. The Expo will be held from 9am – 7pm. Health & Wellness Assessment Screenings sponsored by Mohawk Valley Health System will take place throughout the Expo. Areas covered will include health-related material, free screenings and wellness information.
- WIBX Heart Radiothon is sponsored by Slocum-Dickson Medical Group, P.L.L.C. and will be broadcasted on WIBX of Townsquare Media. The Heart Radiothon will be broadcast on Friday, March 2nd from 6am – 7pm and Saturday, March 3rd from 6am – 1pm and streamed online at www.wibx950.com.
- WKTV Heart Telethon is sponsored by UFCW Local One and will be broadcast live by WKTV NewsChannel 2 and streamed online at www.wktv.com. The Telethon will be broadcast live on Friday, March 2nd from 7pm – 8pm on CBS Utica and Saturday, March 3rd from 8am – 1pm on WKTV NewsChannel 2.
The Association also announced this year’s Red Cap survivor ambassadors. Our Red Cap ambassadors strive to educate and inform people of various cardiovascular diseases through their own personal and inspiring experiences. They ask you, the participants, to instill their passion as you raise money that will be used for training, advocacy, research and education. They hope the knowledge you gain from listening to and/or reading their stories will make you want to involve your family, friends and colleagues on your team and fundraising efforts. In addition to information about America’s Greatest Run & Walk, stories from the heart were shared by this year’s Red Cap survivor ambassadors.
The Benham Family – congenital heart defect survivor Grace and heart attack survivor Roy, from Rome
Paul Grube – aortic valve replacement survivor from Clark Mills
Sammy Paquette – a congenital heart defect survivor from Rome
If you are interested in forming a fundraising team or volunteering for the event on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018, please contact the American Heart Association at 315.580.3964. You can register for the event at www.uticaheartrunwalk.org.
America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk 2018 is locally sponsored by signature sponsor NYCM Insurance; local sponsors Scalzo, Zogby and Wittig, Inc. Insurance; MetLife & MetLife Foundation; Carbone Auto Group; AmeriCU Credit Union, and The Fitness Mill. America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend’s fundraising goal is $1,114,690. A minimum amount of $30 in pledges for participants 16 years and older is required at registration to participate in the Heart Run & Walk. For more information on America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk 2018, please contact the American Heart Association at 315.580.3964 or visit www.uticaheartrunwalk.org.